CYPRUS GEOGRAPHY

LOCATION:
CYPRUS island is an independent country located in the eastern Meditarenean Sea, 97 km west of Syria and 64 km west of Turkey

AREA:

total area: 9,250 km2
land area: 9,240 km2
comparative area: about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

COASTLINE:
648 km

MARITIME CLAIMS:

continental shelf: 200 m depth or to depth of exploitation
territorial sea: 12 nm

POLITICAL PROBLEM:
In 1974 there has been a forceful Turkish invasion, in the island, which resulted in 37% of Cyprus to be still under Turkish occupation. Since then 200,000 Cypriots are refugees, 1619 Greek Cypriots are still missing. For over 20 years now Turkey in violation of numerous UN and security council resolutions keeps the island divided.

CLIMATE:
Temperate, Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. The island provides a perfect climate for summer holidays. It is estimated that there are 300 sunny days each year!!

TERRAIN:
Central plain with mountains to north and south

NATURAL RESOURCES:
copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

LAND USE:

arable land: 40%
permanent crops: 7%
meadows and pastures: 10%
forest and woodland: 18%
other: 25%
Irrigated land: 350 km2 (1989)

ENVIROMENT:
moderate earthquake activity; water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall.

NOTE:
The above article was prepared by mainly using parts from CIA World Fact book, and other sources of information about Cyprus.

Return to INTRODUCTION TO CYPRUS page.